Ireland to go ahead with EU referendum

DUBLIN - Ireland says it will go ahead with its own referendum on the European constitution despite France having rejected the treaty.

"For our part, the government is continuing to prepare for ratification of the European constitution by the target date of November 2006," a government spokesman said.

The government published a bill on Thursday in parliament which would enable Ireland to stage its own referendum. Those plans have not changed, officials said.

Dublin said it very much regretted the French decision but said it was important that the European Union move forward in a "considered and united way."

"We have recently published the referendum bill and look forward to the start of the debate in parliament," it said.

"The government remains firmly of the view that a European constitution is strongly in Ireland's interest and in that of the European Union as a whole," it added.

No date has yet been set for Ireland's referendum.

- REUTERS